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“I know.” There wasn’t a hint of surprise in Casper’s voice, and Antonio thought back to what Lance told him the other day -everyonehere knew.
“If you knew… why’d you let her stay with me?” Unnatural beings believed being a werewolf’s mate was a curse - adeadlycurse - despite there being no history of wolves killing their mates.
ExceptIkilled my mate, Antonio thought. Gods, pleasedon’t let history repeat itself. Not tonight.
“Truthfully, I had no idea at the time of our agreement. When I finally realized what she was to you I convinced myself I’d do anything to go back on our deal. But after thinking about it for some time, I realized no one could keep her as safe as you could. Not even myself.” There was a grievous look in Casper’s eyes that unnerved Antonio, as if he yearned to tell Antonio a story toodark to speak out loud. “I’ll split you far away from here after your match. I’ll collect you in the morning.”
Antonio almost remembered to breathe again, but the thought of Sophia’s impending battle prevented him from recalling completely.
At least Antonio felt a bit of relief. He thought Casper would take this news much worse. “I can’t thank you enough.”
Casper brought his attention to the field below. “Just promise me you’ll take care of Sophia. The way my life is going…” He shook his head. “Whenever I see her, I have no idea if it’ll be my last, but my life is…”
“Complicated,” Antonio finished his sentence, understanding Casper now more than he ever had before.
“Yeah,” Casper agreed, running his fingers through his hair.
“You’ll never have to worry about her. She’ll be well taken care of, and she’ll be there when you’re ready,” Antonio said, shocking himself. Perhaps his jealousy for the elf was ebbing, his compassion growing.
All conversation was lost when the arena erupted in cheers. Antonio began rocking again, his ability to breathe still lost to him as he watched his small fey walk into the arena. As always, she stood as tall as she could, her chest raised with pride.
Antonio ignored the mocking laughter around him from immortals, all disbelieving a fey made it this far. He listened as everyone joked that without the help of her teammates she’d already be dead.
They hadnoidea. “Prove them all wrong.” His fear was ebbing, anger taking its place. Suddenly, he couldn’t wait to watch Sophia in action, wanting her to kill their laughter by demonstrating what a truly skilled fighter was capable of. “Give them hell.”
“Two swords,” Casper commented on the swords fastened to her back, crossing over one another. “Was that your advice?”
“More so Conall’s than mine.” Stubborn Sophia had ignored his and Conall’s advice time and time again. Yet she seemed to have foregone her ego today, trusting their judgment.
He became more infatuated with her every day, every minute, every second…
But when he caught a glimpse of her opponent, his optimism vanished.
Across from Sophia, a banshee floated in. With blood oozing from eyes as black as night and untamed hair as white as snow, it didn’t take much to know this banshee wasn’t a force to be reckoned with. It was known that those who crossed paths with a banshee didn’t survive unless if the banshee willed it.
With wails that paralyzed their rivals, an intangibility that protected them from bodily harm, and telekinetic powers that could lift cars, banshees were almost impossible to kill. One didn’t fight when confronted by a banshee, oneran.
But Sophia couldn’t run. That damned blood pact she made to compete in this tournament prevented her from being able to do so.
“A fucking banshee?” Antonio still wasn’t breathing.Obviously. “Aren’t they extinct?” Those wailing creatures resided in Ireland and were known to feed off the fear of humans.
“Yeah, so are the fey. Yet there one is.” Casper flippantly waved his hand toward Sophia. “I watched that banshee during the team battles. Her screeches would immobilize everyone opposing her before they had a chance. Her teammates would finish the job while they were still immobile.”
Antonio hissed, digging his nails into his thighs so deeply he drew blood. He didn’t believe he could even defeat a banshee, so how could assure himself that Sophia would be able to?
He couldn’t.
But then Sophia somehow managed to find Antonio in the crowd, her eyes landing on him.
“Did she just wink at you?” Casper asked.
“I believe she did,” Antonio breathlessly responded. Whenever immortals were unlucky enough to come face to face with a banshee, theyran. But there Sophia stood, so fearless shewinkedat him. For the first time since those gates cranked open, Antonio remembered how to breathe.
Damn that incredible fey.
When she brought her arms over her head, reaching for the swords fastened against her back, Casper said, “If she makes it through this match we won’t have to worry anymore. She just has to make it through this one.”
Not taking his eyes off Sophia, Antonio asked, “You found a loophole?”
